CNA Classes in California

There are hundreds of nursing facilities in California that offer training programs for Certified Nursing Assistants. These independent providers and community colleges provide opportunities to obtain qualified education for aspiring health care professionals.

CNA’s or Certified Nursing Assistants are responsible for the patients care and well being. They have similar duties and responsibilities like nurses or medical assistants, but they do not perform complicated tasks like medication administration and wound care. The average salary of a Certified Nursing Assistant in the state of California is $32,000, making it a rather well paid job in these tough economic times.

If you are interested in this type of career, you can undergo the training program through the Red Cross or any other eligible institution in the state. Red Cross offers 164 hours of CNA classes and field work. However, if you do not like this institution, you can look for several online opportunities related to CNA training programs.

The curriculum of CNA training is normally divided into segments covering topics on charting, physical assessments, nutrition, measurements, resident care, vital signs, medical and surgical nursing, body mechanics, patient’s rights, patient care, rehabilitation, and emergency procedures. All these topics are important, because they will be asked during your certification examination and you will obviously need this knowledge in your future work.

The state of California requires all candidates to be at least 16 years old and have undergone a minimum training of 150 hours. Passing the certification exam as well as completing the criminal background and customary fingerprinting is important because healthcare facilities will not accept applicants without all of these documents. As of now, four testing centers are available to applicants who want to take the examination for Certified Nursing Assistants. Three of them are available nationwide and the last one is state approved.

The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission is one of the three testing centers that provide examinations for CNA’s. You have to book early because they serve those who come first and do not entertain examinees if the area is full already. On the other hand, the National Nephrology Certification Organization also offers examination, practice courses as well as recertification guidelines if the registration has lapsed and re-take is required. Lastly, the California Dialysis Council offers certification examination but requires all students to become a registered member first.

For you to take the exam, you have to be a high school graduate or an employee who has gone through four years of full time work experience. You also have to pass the training program which includes clinical and classroom training. Once you successfully pass the exam, you will obtain a nursing assistant certification stating that you are eligible to work as a CNA in any healthcare field.

The Department of Public Health in California will be responsible for the regulation of certification and licensing so any concerns related to this should be address to them. If you are already a Certified Nursing Assistant, you can now have stable career in the healthcare field. You can also proceed to advanced studies in case you want to be a nurse or licensed practical nurse.